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| Panama |  Review on December 8, 2010: |
cherriesss
Rating:  | Review Topic: Direct Consular Filing
A review of our experience at the US Embassy in Panama:
- Although our appointment was at 1 pm, we arrived at the Embassy at 12:30 but were not let inside until 1 pm.
- There were about 4 other interviewees scheduled.
- After showing our Appointment Letter to security at the entrance, we were let in to the Consular Section and asked to hand in our Appointment Letter to the Immigrant Visa Unit window.
- We were called to the same window a few minutes later and asked to hand in: police certificate, I-864 Affidavit of Support, tax transcripts, and employment verification letter for petitioner. (They already had the I-130, G-325As, DS-230, passport copies for both petitioner and beneficiary, photographs for beneficiary, birth certificates for both petitioner and beneficiary, and marriage certificate from previous packets.)
- Then, we were asked to go to the Cashier window to pay the $404 in fees. It was 1:35 by now.
- Then, we handed in the receipt back at the Immigrant Visa Unit window and were told to sit and wait to be called by the Officer.
- The Officer called my husband\'s name at approximately 2:00 pm, and we both walked up to the window.
- The Officer conducted the interview in Spanish and began by confirming our names, taking my husband\'s fingerprints, and having him sign Part II of the DS-230. He asked us both if we spoke English AND Spanish, we said yes. He then asked me to sit down.
- Next, the Officer began interviewing my husband. Amongst the questions asked were: When and where did you meet your wife? How soon after meeting did you establish a romantic relationship? Do you know her family? What is her nationality? Where was she born? Does he have family in the US? What are his plans in the US? Why was he interested in living in the US? What does he do for a living? What does he intend to work in in the US? Has he ever been in the US before? Does he have family in the US? Does she have family in the US? Do we have friends in common? What have you studied?
- After that, the officer called me to the window (my husband remained there and was not asked to sit down) and I was asked (in English): Where were you born? Why are you moving back to the US? What do you do for a living? Can you tell me more about what you do at work? What are your plans when you get to the US? Have you paid your US taxes?
- He was very polite and cordial the entire time and ended the interview by commenting that it looked like we have everything in order and then said \"Your visa has been approved\"! He indicated that we would be contacted by the Embassy within the next few days for us to go pick up my husband\'s passport. We left the Embassy at approximately 2:20 pm.
- We received a call about 5 days later asking us to pick up the passports with the visa. We headed to the US Embassy once more and were given the passport with the visa as well as the envelope we are to present at the port of entry.
All in all, it was a stressful experience (of course) but the Embassy staff was helpful and amicable throughout the entire process.
(updated on December 13, 2010)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #6959